Shrub rose plant named ‘Royal Sunrise’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘Royal Sunrise’, is provided which abundantly and continuously forms extremely fragrant blooms. The growth habit is bushy and shrub-like. The foliage is smooth, and dark green with a glossy finish. The plant propagates from cuttings easily, has a unique bloom color combination of both purple and yellow. The new variety is well suited to growing as attractive ornamentation and a source of fragrance in in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Latin name—Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Royal Sunrise’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant was created at Brenham,Tex., U.S.A., by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossedwhich previously had been observed in the hope that they wouldcontribute their unique color and fragrance (from the female parent),and disease resistance (in the case of the male parent). The femaleparent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘WEKjucistwe’ variety (U.S. PlantPat. No. 31,861.) The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the‘Gideon Lincecum’ variety (non-patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘WEKjucistwe’ x ‘Gideon Lincecum’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were stratified in anartificial environment and sown into trays in a greenhouse environment.Seedlings were obtained and displayed phenotypic and biologicalvariation. Selective trialing and evaluation of the seedlings resultedin the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and continuously forms extremely fragrant blooms.    -   (b) exhibits a bushy and shrub-like growth habit,    -   (c) forms blooms containing a unique color combination of both        purple and yellow colors,    -   (d) forms disease resistant foliage with a smooth and glossy        finish,    -   (e) is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation and a        source of fragrance in in the landscape.

The new rose can be readily distinguished from its ancestors uponinspecting the color of the blossoms. More specifically, the ‘RoyalSunrise’ variety forms blossoms more saturated in color than both of itsparental varieties, ‘WEKjucistwe’ and ‘Gideon Lincecum’. Additionally,the new variety can also be distinguished from its ancestors byinspecting the petal count of the blossoms. More specifically, the‘Royal Sunrise’ variety forms blossoms of a higher petal count thanparental variety ‘Gideon Lincecum’, but lower in petal count thanparental variety ‘WEKjucistwe’.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readilydistinguished from other shrub rose plants, including the ‘Collicutt’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,054) AKA ‘Morden Blush’, upon inspectionof the foliage. More specifically, the ‘Royal Sunrise’ variety formsdissimilar Diplocarpon rosae (black spot) resistant foliage whencompared to the ‘Collicutt’ variety, which forms foliage that isextremely susceptible to black spot.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Royal Sunrise’ was done by taking rottedcuttings (clones) in Brenham Tex., U.S.A. in beginning in 2019. Cuttingswere taken from mature stems that were approximately 10 to 15 cm inlength and approximately 0.75 cm in diameter. Initial cuttings weretaken of the new variety and grew into mature plants in Brenham, Tex.Subsequent cuttings were taken of the initial asexually reproducedplants and grown into mature plants. Mature plants of both the initiallypropagated plants and the subsequently propagated plants were compared.There was no observable difference between the generations. Therefore,it was demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Royal Sunrise’ remainstable, uniform, and true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true is as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the plant parts, i.e., the flowers, buds, stems andleaves of the new rose, ‘Royal Sunrise’. The illustrated rose plantparts were approximately one year of age and were observed duringAugust, while growing on their own roots in Brenham, Tex., U.S.A.Flowers, buds, and stem growth are displayed in various stages ofmaturity. The upper side and under side of the leaves, blooms and petalsare displayed.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S. Colour Chart) Edition V(2007). The description is based one year old specimens of the newvariety during August while growing outdoors on their own roots atBrenham, Tex., U.S.A.

-   Class: Shrub rose named, ‘Royal Sunrise’.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 0.9 to 1.2 meters on average at            maturity.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.6 to 0.9 meters on average at            maturity.        -   Habit.—Bushy and round.-   Stems:    -   -   Size.—Approximately 18 cm tall by 1.1 cm in caliper.        -   Color.—Young stems: Green Group 137A to B. Adult wood:            Yellow-Green Group 146C.        -   Prickles.—Size: Approximately 0.6 cm in length on average.            Quantity: Approximately 1 prickle per 15 cm section of stem.            Curvature: None detected — straight. Color: Greyed-Orange            Group 177B. Density: Sparse.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Internodal spacing.—Approximately 5 cm on average.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, odd-pinnate, and compound.        -   Margin.—Doubly serrate.        -   Stipules.—Size: Approximately 17 mm×7 mm on average. Margin:            Adnate with winged tips and ciliate edges. Color: Green            Group 135A. Texture: Slightly pubescent.        -   Size.—Approximately 15.5 cm×10 cm on average.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146B. Under            surface: Green Group 143C. Size: Approximately 6.4 cm×1.4 mm            on average. Shape: Filiform.        -   Glossiness of the upper side of the leaf.—Strong.        -   Rachis.—Color: Green Group 143C.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 5 and 7. Shape: Ovate, with an acute apex            and rounded base. Size: Approximately 5 cm×3.25 cm on            average. Venation: Reticulate. Venation Color: Green Group            135A. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Overall appearance:            Dark-green and slightly glossy. Undulation of Margin:            Medium. Texture Upper Surface: Slightly waxy. Texture Under            Surface: Matte. Color (young foliage) upper surface:            Yellow-Green Group 146A. Color (young foliage) under            surface: Greyed-Red Group 178A. Color (adult foliage) upper            surface: Green Group 135A. Color (adult foliage) under            surface: Green Group 138A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Average size of inflorescence.—Approximately 12 cm by 8 cm            on average.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 5 to 9 on            average.        -   Florescence type.—Paniculate.        -   Peduncle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 143B. Length:            Approximately 4 cm in length on average. Width: 2 mm in            width on average. Texture: Slightly pubescent.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Size: Approximately 2.1 cm×0.6 cm on            average. Arrangement: Pentamerous and imbricate. Shape:            Obcunate. Margin: Entire. Sepal Extensions: Weak. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 146B to C. Under surface:            Yellow-Green Group 146B to C.        -   Buds.—Shape: Globular (as illustrated). Size: Approximately            2.5 cm in length and 2 cm in width on average. Color (when            opening) upper surface: Yellow Group 9A. Color (when            opening) under surface: Yellow Group 2B at the base and when            exposed to sunlight causes a transition to Red Group 51A,            then to Greyed-Purple Group 187D, and finally to Violet-Blue            Group N89A to N89B at the apex.-   Flower:    -   -   Form.—Rounded Rosette.        -   Shape.—Flattened orbicular when open.        -   Profile of the lower part of the flower.—Convex.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 5 cm to 6 cm on average.        -   Color.—(When opening) upper surface: Yellow Group 9A at the            base and fading to Yellow Group 10B and when exposed to            sunlight causes a transition to Violet-Blue Group N89A to B            at the apex. (When opening) under surface: Yellow Group 11B            at the base and when exposed to sunlight causes a transition            to Red Group 54A to Greyed-Purple Group 186A, and finally to            Violet-Blue Group N89A to B at the apex. (When blooming)            upper surface: Yellow Group 9A at the base and fading to            Yellow Group 11B and when exposed to sunlight causes a            transition to Violet-Blue Group N89A to B at the apex. (When            blooming) under surface: Yellow Group 9A at the base and            fading to Yellow Group 10B and when exposed to sunlight            causes a transition to Violet-Blue Group N89A to B at the            apex. (End of blooming) upper surface: Yellow-White Group            158B to C at the base fading to Violet Group 85A at the            apex. (End of blooming) under surface: Violet Group 84C.        -   Fragrance.—Blend of musk, citrus, apple, and guava.        -   Petals.—Petal Size: Approximately 2.5 cm×2.75 cm on average.            Petal Shape: Nearly orbicula. Petal Number: Approximately 65            on average. Petal Reflex: Independent (one by one) and            slight undulation. Petal Incision: Slight. Petaloids: None            present. Petal Drop: Very easily and cleanly after blooming.            Apex: Mucronate. Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire with a slight            degree of petal margin reflex. Texture: Glabrous. Basal            Spot: Absent.        -   Lasting quality.—On plant: Approximately 3 to 4 days on            average. In vase: Unknown.        -   Petal drop.—Easily and cleanly after blooming.        -   Stamen number.—Approximately 40 on average.        -   Anther color.—Yellow-Orange Group 21A.        -   Anther shape.—Oblong.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 2.1 mm on average.        -   Filament color.—Yellow-Orange Group 14B.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 2.5 mm on average.        -   Pollen quantity.—Medium amount of pollen produced.        -   Pollen color.—Yellow Group 13B.        -   Pistil form.—Separate and free.        -   Pistil number.—Approximately 40 on average.        -   Stigma color.—Yellow-Orange Group 22A.        -   Style color.—Greyed-Orange Group 163D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Receptacle.—Achenes form on the inside of the fruit. Size:            Approximately 0.5 cm×0.5 cm on average when mature.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Fast.        -   Blossoming.—Continuous.        -   Lasting quality.—On plant: Approximately 3 to 4 days on            average. In vase: Unknown.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Lush with average vigor.        -   Growth rate.—Average growth rate.        -   Hip/seed formation.—A medium number of hips that are round            in shape with a flat top are formed after blossoming. Ripe            coloration of hips is 31A-30C.-   Root system:    -   -   Root color.—Yellow-White Group 158D.        -   Root habit.—Well rounded.-   Physiology:    -   -   Disease resistance.—Resistant to most races of Diplocarpon            rosae (black spot), and above average resistance to            Podosphaera pannosa (powdery mildew). The variety displays            an intermediate resistance to Peronospora sparsa (downy            mildew).        -   Cold hardiness.—The variety has been found to be suitable            for climactic conditions in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8.            Based on the performance of the parental varieties, it is            likely, although untested, that the new variety is also            suitable for climatic conditions of USDA Plant Hardiness            Zones 5, 6 and 7.        -   Heat tolerance.—The variety exhibits average heat tolerance.            The variety has been found to be suitable for climactic            conditions in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8. Based on the            performance of its parent varieties, it is likely, although            untested, that the new variety is also suitable for climatic            conditions of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9.        -   Drought tolerance.—The variety exhibits average drought            tolerance.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: 1) abundantly and continuouslyforms extremely fragrant blooms, 2) exhibits a bushy and shrub-likegrowth habit, 3) forms blooms containing a unique color combination ofboth purple and yellow colors, 4) forms disease resistant foliage with asmooth and glossy finish, 5) is well suited for growing as attractiveornamentation and a source of fragrance in in the landscape,substantially as herein illustrated and described.